Active clinical trials for "Constipation"

Constipation is a symptom based disorder with a prevalence of 15% in the adult population and its management remains challenging. Although not life threatening, constipation is associated with impaired quality of life, increased healthcare costs and excess work absenteeism. Constipation represents a heterogeneous disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Several risk factors have been suggested to lead to the condition and are divided in 3 main categories: a) physiological, b) environmental and c) demographic. To date, there is lack of large epidemiological studies on proposed aetiological factors of constipation, especially studies assessing all proposed risk factors of constipation together. The overall aim of this study is to investigate the multidimensional (physiological, environmental and demographic) predictors of constipation with the use of a multivariate analysis statistical model. This is a large single centre case control study comparing constipated adults with healthy individuals matched for age, gender and ethnicity. The duration of the study is 2 weeks in total and includes a screening visit, a 2 week run-in period and a baseline visit at the end of the run-in period. Transit time between constipated and healthy individuals is assessed at baseline visit. Differences in gastrointestinal symptoms, dietary intake as well as differences in stool output (e.g. stool frequency and consistency) between constipated and healthy individuals are assessed over the baseline period (the week before the baseline visit). Differences in female sex hormone levels as well as stool markers and markers of fermentation (e.g. fecal water, stool pH, short chain fatty acids) between constipated and healthy individuals are assessed at baseline visit. Furthermore, differences in environmental measures (physical activity, anxiety, smoking) and differences in demographic measures (age, gender, body mass index) between patients suffering from constipation and healthy individuals are also assessed at baseline visit.

The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of linaclotide and its active metabolite (MM-419447) excreted in breast milk after multiple, once daily doses of linaclotide (72 μg, 145 μg, or 290 μg) in lactating women receiving the drug therapeutically.

The investigators performed a 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Prunus Mume Extract on Improvement of Constipation. The investigators measured Improvement of Constipation parameters , including Colonic Transit Time, number of bowel movement, defecation time, stool type, color and stool amounts per defecation, and monitored their blood pressure.

The objective of the non-interventional study is to compare the quality of life, health care resource use and costs between the use of a combination of oxycodone and naloxone (Targiniq) versus oxycodone and laxatives for patients with severe pain, and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treatment with Targiniq.

The purpose of this study is to asses the effect of chronic constipation on formation of inguinal hernia using Constipation Severity Scale.

Chronic constipation (CC) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) are two conditions difficult to manage because factors affecting dissatisfaction to treatments are misleading. This observational multicentric national study is aimed to assess which factors are related with a clinically significant improvement in patients with CC and IBS-C. Patients will be evaluated at baseline and after every one-month "standard of care" therapy with standardised questionnaires to assess bowel habit and satisfaction to treatments. Somatisation, quality of life, colonic transit time and resting anal pressure will be assessed at baseline.

The purpose of this observational study is to investigate health related quality of life (QoL) in Korean female participants with chronic constipation (long term decreased number of or difficulty making bowel movements) having received treatment previously.

This study will evaluate a questionnaire for measuring constipation in children with cancer. The questionnaire used in this study (Constipation Assessment Scale) reliably predicts the presence and severity of constipation in adult patients, but has not been tested in children. The answers to the questionnaire will be used to determine the child's level of constipation and to plan and provide appropriate care. Patients up to 21 years of age who are enrolled in National Cancer Institute trials and are taking weekly vinca alkaloids or narcotics twice a day or more may be eligible for this study. On admission to the study, participants will undergo the following procedures: The child (or the child's parent) will be interviewed about the child's bowel habits. The results of the child's most recent physical examination related to bowel function will be obtained from the medical record for review. A registered dietitian will interview the child or parent about the child's eating habits. During the study, participants will undergo the following procedures: A registered nurse will interview the child or parent about the child's bowel movements. This will be done every other day for hospitalized children and three times a week (by phone) for outpatients. The child or parent will complete a daily diary of bowel movements. A registered dietitian will evaluate the child's nutritional status periodically (by phone). Children who are not constipated when they enter the study will receive a stool softener every day to prevent constipation. Children who become constipated during the study will be treated as needed. Patients will be followed for 7 days after the last dose of vinca alkaloid or narcotic for a maximum of 6 weeks.

The current diagnostic process of colonic motility disorders often takes a long time and involves multiple invasive, painful and/or unnecessary diagnostic procedures. To improve this diagnostic process, the potential of Electro-Entero-Graphy (EEnG) is investigated. During the EEnG procedure, several surface electrodes are positioned (under ultrasound guidance) on the abdomen so that electrical activity originating in the colon can be measured. Measurements will be performed after a period of fasting (when the colon is 'silent') and just after a meal (when the colon is moving) in both participants suffering from colonic motility disorders and healthy controls. It is hypothesized that these measurements are an indication of colonic motility and can be used as a diagnostic tool for colonic motility disorders. It is also hypothesized that this EEnG procedure is not more burdensome than the Gold Standard procedures for diagnosing colonic motility disorders. This will be assessed using questionnaires.

We hypothesize that defecatory disorders can be described in mechanical terms which would allow a mechanistic description of disorders which would in turn allow better directed biofeedback mechanisms to treat disorders of defecation.